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Feedlot registration grace period ends Jan. 15Owners of animal feedlots and manure storage areas now have until Jan. 15 to register their facilities with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). A large number of registrations were turned in at the end of December to meet the Jan. 1 deadline and the MPCA wants to ensure that those registrations are processed. Any registration received by Jan. 15 will be considered received by Jan. 1. Feedlot owners who have not mailed their registration can take advantage of the grace period. ìOur main goal is and always will be to get people registered,î said Myrna Halbach, MPCA feedlot manager. ìWe really need folks to register since the legislature is looking for this information to guide them on technical assistance and cost-share needs. This is particularly true in light of the budget shortfalls,î she said. Open-lot feedlots, with less than 300 animals, that have run-off problems can still qualify for Open Lot Certification if they register by Jan. 15. The program allows feedlot owners to phase in corrections over a number of years and it provides a conditional waiver of civil penalties for past runoff violations. Feedlot owners who do not register are not eligible for certification and must correct pollution hazards in 24 months or less. After Jan. 15, the MPCA will look at registrations on a case-by-case basis and will work with feedlot owners to manage their individual situations. Feedlots registered after Jan. 15 may not be eligible for Open Lot certification. Feedlot owners can get a registration form by calling the MPCA toll free at 1-877-333-3508, or on the web at www.pca.state.mn.us/hot/feedlots.html#forms. Owners also can get the forms at most local government offices including area MPCA offices, county feedlot offices, county environmental service offices and soil and water conservation district offices. ©ECM Post Review |